However, Honora and Sean’s presence in the forest is deeply suspect. It places them here around when Cillian was being attacked. Sean had a vendetta against Cosmina, and she died. Cillian kept Doug hidden from Sean, and he was attacked. Maybe Sean thought Bradford was the one who was trying to help Doug. And Bradford died the morning Honora came back.
Artemis isn’t going to like it, but we have to look into it. With all the demons Sean has at his disposal, surely a succubus type isn’t out of the question. I promised Rhys I’d research, but a trip to Dublin is a better strategy. This time I won’t leave without answers.
Leo is waiting for me on the edge of the castle grounds. His voice is bright against the darkness. “I was looking for you.”
“Oh gods, I have so much to fill you in on.”
Leo takes my elbow, spinning me back toward the forest and the path to Shancoom. “Great! We’re going this way.” He carries me along like a leaf caught in a current, his fingers a gentle guiding pressure.
“Is your mom already out here looking for mine? Because I was wrong. About everything. We need to get to Dublin.”
“There’s a lot we need to talk about. This way.”
“No, I need a car.”
He tugs my elbow, then stops when I don’t respond. “Athena. It will keep. The world isn’t going to end. Let’s just walk for a bit. Please?”
The predawn sky is slowly bruising with the promise of the sun. I can’t quite make out Leo’s expression, but his voice sounds strained. My phone buzzes with a text from Cillian. “Weird,” I say, shoving my cell back in my pocket.
“What?”
“Cillian wants me to come over and watch Eurovision. Odd request when he was technically dead a couple hours ago.” I pause. “Oh, you don’t know about that. A demon attacked him. I think it’s the same one who got Bradford and Cosmina. Our working theory is succubus. Do you think the text is a code? He needs help but can’t say? No, he would never use Eurovision lightly.” My phone buzzes again.
Everything is fine. Bunk off and come over right now. Rhys wants you to too.
Kind of busy, I text back.
Stop being busy. Or be busy here.
I’m with Leo.
Perfect! Bring him.
Cillian has Rhys to watch over him. They don’t need me. And Leo’s not quite right—the world might end. It tries to with aggravating frequency. One of these days, I could be the girl behind it.
Leo keeps looking over his shoulder like he’s expecting someone else. “We’ll go to Cillian’s, then. Check up on him. We can talk there.”
“No, Rhys is there, so Cillian’s safe. We have bigger problems. Sean and Honora attacked my mom and took Doug back to Dublin. My mom’s going after them. I am too. You can tell the Council. What’s left of it, anyway.” I turn toward the castle again.
“No!” Leo dances around me, blocking me. “Let’s go talk with Rhys and Cillian.” He glances over his shoulder again.
“Is someone else coming?”
“Nope. Let’s go.”
“Why aren’t you listening to me?” It stings. Leo is the one person who has listened to me this whole time, without fail. “Sean and Honora were here when Cillian was attacked. Bradford died the morning Honora showed up and was distracting us. Cosmina messed up Sean’s pit fight. I have to confront them.”
“No.” Leo is vehement. “It’s not your problem.”
Now he sounds like Artemis! I glare. “Umm, it definitely is. It’s my responsibility to protect the Watchers.”
“It’s not your responsibility, though.” Leo huffs in frustration. “They don’t need you.”
I step back, folding my arms. The sting of his words has turned to a deep cut.
He hurries on. “Besides, you have your whole life ahead of you. It’s hard to see, because you’ve been in between for so long. I understand . . .” He tips his head back. “God, I understand what it is to be two things at once, and at the same time not quite either.” He reaches out and takes my hands, fixing his eyes on mine. “You’re trying so hard to prove you have a place here. But you don’t need to. Please. Let me clean all this up for you. Let me redeem myself that way. I swore I’d protect you.”
His cool fingers slip between my own and he takes a sharp breath. His dark eyes clear of their distraction. They burn now, like coals breathed back to life. And then, before I realize what’s happening, he kisses me.